Kaliff Insurance

What Kaliff Insurance does

Kaliff Insurance is a third-generation, family-owned specialty insurance agency founded in 1917 by Morris H. Kaliff in San Antonio, Texas, focused exclusively on the entertainment and amusement industry. The company underwrites and brokers coverage across fairs, festivals, carnivals, rodeos, music events, Mardi Gras parades, and specialized risks including active shooter, weather, event cancellation, vendor liability, auto, inland marine, rain, and directors and officers coverage. It holds the only Lloyd's of London Direct Coverholder designation in the amusement insurance industry (since 2009), giving Mitchell H. Kaliff direct underwriting authority up to $5 million any one risk, complemented by customized relationships with A-rated domestic carriers.

The business operates with 11-50 employees from its San Antonio headquarters, holding insurance licenses across 48 U.S. states. Distribution runs through three channels: direct enterprise sales to event organizers, a nationwide independent agent network, and a self-serve online portal for SMB vendors. Revenue is generated through insurance premiums, commissions on Lloyd's placements, and underwriting fees, structured as recurring subscription-style premium relationships rather than transactional sales. The company is led by Chairman/CEO Mitchell H. Kaliff, Executive Vice President Bruce Smiley-Kaliff (CFEE), and VP of Sales and Marketing David Olivares, with Mitchell Kaliff uniquely holding his Lloyd's title in the niche and serving in industry governance roles such as treasurer of the Outdoor Amusement Business Association.

Customers include Amusement Management International, Memphis in May International Festival, Amusement of America, and Ray Cammack Shows (30+ year client), with no proprietary technology platform disclosed beyond an administrative portal. The core technology is essentially the underwriting expertise, industry relationships, and Lloyd's-backed authority accumulated over a century of specialization in a niche too small for generalist carriers to prioritize.

Name

Kaliff Insurance

Legal name

Kaliff Insurance

Website

https://www.kaliff.com/

Company type

Private

Founded year

1917

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Kaliff Insurance provides insurance for festivals, fairs, carnivals, and the entertainment industry.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Specialty Entertainment Insurance

NAICS

Insurance Agencies and Brokerages (524210)

SIC

Insurance Agents, Brokers & Service (6411)

akta.pro primary industry

Mid-Market Commercial Package (Package Policies) (FSAJAFAB)

Keywords

• Specialty insurance brokerage
• Event liability coverage
• Entertainment insurance services
• Amusement industry coverage
• Festival insurance products

Headquarters

HQ city

San Antonio

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Insurance Premiums: Kaliff Insurance generates revenue through insurance premiums charged to clients for coverage across event and amusement insurance products. The company acts as a Coverholder for Lloyd's of London and represents domestic carriers, earning commissions and underwriting fees for placing coverage. Premiums are customized based on the specific risk profile and coverage requirements of each event, carnival, festival, or entertainment operation.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels3 records

Core offering

Kaliff Insurance is a specialty insurance agency that underwrites and places coverage exclusively for the entertainment and amusement industry, including fairs, festivals, carnivals, rodeos, music events, Mardi Gras organizations, and event vendors. The company acts as a Lloyd's of London Direct Coverholder with in-house underwriting authority up to $5 million per risk, and pairs policies with event-specific risk management training and assessment services. Revenue is generated through insurance premiums and commissions, with distribution via direct sales, independent agents across 48 states, and a self-serve online portal for small vendor liability buyers.

Product overview

Kaliff Insurance is a specialized event and amusement insurance provider offering a comprehensive portfolio of insurance products for the entertainment and amusement industry. The core offering centers on event type coverages (Fairs, Festivals, Carnivals, Music, Rodeos, and Other Events) with specialized add-on coverages including Active Shooter/Acts of Violence, Event Weather, Event Cancellation, and Vendor Liability. Additional specialty coverages include Auto, Inland Marine Cargo and Property, Rain Insurance, and Directors & Officers coverage. As a Coverholder for Lloyd's of London and a Direct Coverholder for Mardi Gras insurance, Kaliff provides customized risk management solutions backed by over 100 years of industry experience.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Quantifiable outcome

• One of the largest insurers of carnivals in the nation
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments7 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Lloyd's of LondoncoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2009Strategic partnership formed in 2009 when Mitchell Kaliff earned the designation as a Lloyd's Direct Coverholder, enabling Kaliff to expand direct underwriting authority and have more control in assisting customers. Kaliff is a Coverholder for Lloyd's of London, the world's largest specialist insurance market with over 300 years of uninterrupted coverage. Mitchell is the only such titleholder in the amusement insurance industry and has authority to underwrite coverage for up to $5 million any one risk through Lloyd's.
• Domestic Insurance CarrierscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerKaliff Insurance has customized relationships with Domestic Carriers in addition to Lloyd's of London. The company represents only the highest rated insurers, typically choosing those with A+ (Superior) or A (Excellent) A.M. Best ratings.
• International Festivals and Events Association (IFEA)minorOthersKaliff is an active member of IFEA as well as state associations throughout the nation, supporting the festival and events industry.
• Texas Festivals and Events Association (TAFE)minorOthersKaliff is a proud and active member of TAFE as well as state associations across the nation.
• Outdoor Amusement Business Association (OABA)minorOthersKaliff Insurance is proud to be an active member of OABA, SLA and IIAA. Mitchell Kaliff serves as treasurer for the national organization OABA.
• State Loss Office (SLA)minorOthersKaliff Insurance is an active member of SLA along with OABA and IIAA.
• International Insurance Advisory (IIAA)minorOthersKaliff Insurance is an active member of IIAA along with OABA and SLA.

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• K&K Insurance Group: A specialty insurance provider focused on the sports, leisure, and entertainment industries, now part of Pearl Insurance. K&K directly competes with Kaliff in fairs, festivals, carnivals, and amusement coverage with similar package event and liability solutions.
• Sadler & Company: A specialty insurance agency providing coverage for carnivals, fairs, festivals, and amusement operations. Sadler & Co. competes directly with Kaliff in midway liability and outdoor amusement segments, serving similar independent operators.
• RPS Specialty: A managing general underwriter and specialty program administrator with programs for entertainment, events, and hospitality risks. RPS operates a similar MGA-style model with delegated underwriting authority and competes for independent agent relationships in the same channel.

Broad incumbents

• Philadelphia Insurance Companies: A top-tier P&C carrier offering specialty lines including event and entertainment liability, amusement, and sports coverage. PHLY competes with Kaliff for mid-market and larger event accounts with broader product breadth and higher per-risk capacity.
• Markel Corporation: A specialty insurer with significant entertainment, events, and amusement industry programs. Markel offers broader geographic reach, larger per-risk capacity, and a more diversified specialty portfolio that competes with Kaliff on marquee event accounts.
• Hiscox: A specialty insurer offering event cancellation, event liability, and entertainment business coverage. Hiscox provides digital distribution and broader specialty lines that compete for mid-market event organizers.
• Allianz Global Corporate & Specialty: The corporate and specialty arm of Allianz providing event cancellation, entertainment liability, and large-event risk solutions. AGCS competes with Kaliff for the largest entertainment and event accounts globally with much higher per-risk capacity and broader reinsurance backing.

Market position

Strengths3 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/Kaliff-Insurance-184023481620236

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Kaliff Insurance